If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.

- George Washington

Saturday, 13 February 2010

Resignation

All done and dusted. I went in to see my boss on Friday and told her I was resigning. We had, to my surprise, a very good and positive conversation. I was able to tell her how I felt about certain things in the business, and I felt that this had been heard and understood. Most of the content of my resignation letter was therefore irrelevant, so I took it back. Later, at home, I amended it and emailed it in.

I think it all boils down to the fit of the job and my personality. While the business was new, and I was in the 'building' phase, I could not have been happier. As things grew more complex and the demands of the business as a whole, and my part within it, grew exponentially, I found it harder to get any enthusiasm for what I was supposed to be doing. Eventually, it became clear to me that the job was bigger than I was, and that I was no longer enjoying the work. When I laid all this out on paper for an appraisal meeting (the first in over two years), and I got back the reply: "Well, funny you should say that, as I have been meaning to have a word with you ..." I realised that the feeling was mutual. When I was younger, this situation would have terrified me, and I would have been clinging on to my job for dear life, whatever the cost. Now, I am not afraid to admit that this particular part of my career has come to a natural end, and I am happy to walk away. The good thing about my Friday meeting was that I was expecting a face-off, and instead we had a very useful and positive discussion, and walked away with no hard feelings. I have been promised a good reference, too, which was another major concern.

I have one job application in the pipeline, and another couple ready to go.

6 comments:

As a serial resigner of old, I understand some of the conflicting emotions - elation and trepidation being two that spring to mind.People can tell if you are hating it,and perhaps then it is the time to go. Hopefully something else will appear. Wishing you the very best of luck. WW

Always difficult to comment on other people's decisions, especially based on a very incomplete picture. However, it's good to hear that there are positive sides to it all - the first post on resigning suggested things might be otherwise!

For what it's worth, sounds like a good, sensible call. If you aren't enjoying something that obviously takes a fair bit of commitment, it's a good time to stop.

Best of luck in picking up something much more to your taste, and hope Anna's no longer quite so cross about the decision!

Sorry the picture is incomplete. As I have said before, Pembs is a small place, and I have no idea who reads this blog. If I gave more detail, it could cause difficulty, as you can appreciate. Maybe later, when the dust has settled a bit. Thanks for the good wishes, though. I took Anna out for a Valentine's Day lunch today (and she poshed up and looked great), so I am now in her good books and the subject has been quietly dropped.

Excellent news! Any job that regularly keeps you awake worrying (rather than keeping you awake with excitement) needs the chop.

I wonder what was in the former employer's policy on health and safety and work force stress.

I suspect like so many, the words will be warm and fuzzy wereas the 'what we do every day' are harsh and uncaring. But then all the nice ISOs/Investor in People badges mean that the paperwork is straight - and not necessarily all the people.

I know what the company policy on workplace stress was - I wrote the bloody thing! Like many companies, what was good practice for all the hourly-paid workers was ignored when it came to management, who were expected to just get on with it. I was appalled one day when we had the minibus driver go sick, and a lot of people needed picking up at 7 am. The call went out for someone to step in, at usual overtme rates. I volunteered and afterwards was told that the company were delighted, as managers didn't qualify for overtime.

I went in to finish a few things off and clear my desk today. It was a weird feeling, but I am more convinced than ever that resigning was the right thing to do. And today I found out that with all the dicking around with my hours over this year, I have been substantially underpaid. With my final salary payment will come back pay of over a grand. I can't believe it, and it will make the search for a new job over the next few weeks a bit more relaxed.